Globally, skilled labor shortages are making it difficult to adequately staff projects and deliver quality work. In the same vein, poor productivity is another notable challenge for the construction industry, which is often unfavorably compared to manufacturing where significant efficiency gains have been made (an average of 1% global labor-productivity growth in construction compared to 3.6% for manufacturing, according to McKinsey.)  

Combined with the increasing pressure to adhere to ever more stringent health and safety requirements, and protect workers in increasingly complex environments, it’s easy to see why many companies struggle to stay competitive and profitable. Yet advances in technology are changing the way we work and can help companies overcome these challenges – here’s how.

In construction, greater efficiency and control over outcomes are key. A business that can maximize material yield, assure quality in every project phase, and quickly achieve compliance is poised to create a good end result.

When FrameTech Systems outgrew their existing manufacturing facility, they knew it was time for a bigger, more flexible space. As experts in cold formed steel (CFS) construction, they also knew exactly which method they would use to bring that space to life. So how did their award-winning CFS facility come to fruition?

Pushing the limits of CFS

The use and demands of this kind of facility – a large, flexible workshop with 60-foot clear spans, 25-foot bays, 20-foot height to truss bearing and the option to add future overhead doors and production bays – typically leads to the selection of a pre-engineered building (PEB).

The occupants of a building want peace and quiet. How can you engineer subfloors and cold-formed steel (CFS) flooring joists to meet that demand?

The answer involves designing CFS floors with greater mass. You must also take into account joist spacing, resilient channels, vibration breaks, and a few other factors.

Creating striking architectural aesthetics is not always easy to achieve using traditional construction methods and materials. Features such as large, unsupported expanses or unusual shapes and curves often require tight tolerances which are difficult to achieve using timber or masonry.